THIS TIME LAST YEAR, I was engaged and giving my all at work. Today, I just came back from a 2-day vacation in Boracay and had dinner with my husband and 16 members of his immediate family and in-laws. I’m also about to start my new job. What 365 days can do! There’s a

I’LL REMEMBER 2015 AS ONE OF THE BEST YEARS of my life. This year, I started working at JFDI.Asia, settled in Cebu after being so homesick, traveled to several destinations around the Philippines and spent two weeks in Hawaii. Best of all I got married to Jovi, who turned out to be an excellent travel buddy!

“THE YEAR I SAW BEAUTIFUL THINGS.” That’s how I’d describe 2014. It’s the year I got engaged to Jovi, worked my first job out of college, learned to cook and bake, and hiked and explored countless trails in San Diego — my home for the year. How blessed is a hiker’s life. Me at San Jacinto

I SAT IN FRONT OF JAN YANEHIRO IN HER 79 New Montgomery office at downtown San Francisco. She’s dressed in a yellow wool jacket over a black top and long pants. Her gently parted bangs and lilac-colored eyeshadow struck me first as I stare at her. “Crystal, your voice tends to fall off

At 13 years old, it was a rough life for me. Inspired by Simple Dollar’s Trent, today I write about what I wish I knew ten years ago. —— Dear Crystal, Today you are 23 years old. You’re leaving the US after five years of building a life there, worked and saved the most you’ve

This is part 2 of my “21 Things I’ve Learned In 21 Years” series. For Part 1, click here. ——- 12. Be impeccable with words, from Don Miguel Ruiz. I became a lot more quiet after learning that “you never have to apologize for anything you didn’t say.” I used to be tactless. Then I realized people don’t

(This is the continuation of my ‘Saving Money’ series. For Part 1, click here.) The book that started it all for me: “Your Money Or Your Life” SAVING MONEY TIP #3 – CREATE BARRIERS The illusion of superiority states we are not who we think we are. So, it helps to have specific

MONEY HAS ALWAYS BEEN a fascinating subject. Growing up, I witnessed how different social classes operate. Unlike the U.S. with a middle class, the Philippines’ rich and poor are two very different animals. We had friends who could not put food on the table; at the same time, we mingled with kids who had

THE CALLAWAY JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHAPED MY CHILDHOOD. Every year, 1200 kids from 56 countries come to San Diego, California, for the biggest international event in the world. It’s one week bundled with a parade, college recruiting and a high-caliber junior golf tournament that produced the likes of Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy,